Maranatha Stories

Sonny was on his lunch break. He went to McDonald’s and got a double quarter pounder meal. He was hungry!

As he was leaving the drive-thru, he noticed a homeless man on the side of the road. At first, he started to drive away, but something called him to share.

Sonny pulled over and rolled down his window. “Would you like my burger?” he asked the homeless man.

The homeless man’s eyes widened in surprise. “Are you serious?” he asked.

“Sure,” Sonny said. “I don’t need it as much as you do.”

The homeless man took the burger and smiled. “Thank you,” he said. “God bless you.”

“You’re welcome,” Sonny said. “God bless you too.”

Sonny drove away, feeling good about what he had done. He knew that he didn’t need the burger as much as the homeless man did. And he was happy to put his needs before his own.

As he drove back to work, he thought about how lucky he was. He had a job, a home, and food to eat. The homeless man didn’t have any of those things. And yet, he was still grateful for what he had.

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Hebrews 13:16

A young woman’s name was Janette. She was 22 years old, and she had just moved to Boston for a job as a marketing manager. She had never been to Boston before, and she didn’t know anyone there. She was feeling lost and alone.

One day, Janette was walking down the street when she saw a group of people gathered around a man. He was talking to them about Jesus, and they were listening intently. Janette stopped to listen, and she was immediately drawn to the man’s words. He spoke with such love and compassion, and she could tell that he truly cared about the people he was talking to.

After the man finished talking, Janette approached him and introduced herself. She told him that she was new to town, and she asked if he could help her find a church. The man was happy to help, and he gave her the name of a church that he thought she would like.

Janette started going to the church, and she quickly made friends with the other members. She felt like she had finally found a place where she belonged.

The young woman was also inspired by the man who had talked to her on the street. She started to read the Bible, and she learned more about Jesus. She realized that she wanted to live her life in a way that would glorify God.

The young woman started to share her faith with others. She would talk to her friends and family about Jesus, and she would pray for them. She also started volunteering at a local soup kitchen. She wanted to show others the love of Christ through her actions.

One day, Janette was volunteering at the soup kitchen when she met a homeless man named Shane. Shane was a kind and gentle man, but he was also very troubled. He had been addicted to drugs for many years, and he had lost everything.

Janette started to talk to Shane about Jesus, and he was open to what she had to say. He started coming to church with Janette, and he began to read the Bible. He also started to pray.

Over time, Shane’s life started to change. He got clean and sober, and he started to rebuild his life. He also started to share his faith with others.

Janette was so grateful that she had been able to share her faith with Shane. She knew that she had made a difference in his life, and she was proud of the role she had played in his transformation.

Janette’s life was changed by the Bible verse Matthew 5:16. She learned that she could make a difference in the world by letting her light shine for Jesus. She is now a faithful follower of Christ, and she is committed to sharing her faith with others.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

A young woman was heartbroken. Her husband had just died, and she was left to raise their two young children on her own. She didn’t know how she was going to do it, but she knew she had to be strong for her children.

She cried for days. She cried in the morning, she cried in the afternoon, and she cried at night. She cried until she thought she had no tears left to cry.

One day, she was sitting on the porch, watching her children play. She was still sad, but she was also starting to feel a sense of peace. She realized that she wasn’t alone. God was with her, and He would help her through this.

She started to pray. She prayed for strength, she prayed for guidance, and she prayed for peace. She prayed every day, and she started to feel God’s presence in her life.

One day, she was reading the Bible when she came across Psalm 30:5. She read it over and over again, and it spoke to her. She realized that God was right. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

She started to smile again. She started to laugh again. She started to enjoy life again. She knew that her husband would want her to be happy, and she was determined to make him proud.

She raised her children to be strong and independent. She taught them the importance of faith, hope, and love. She showed them that it is possible to overcome any obstacle, even the loss of a loved one.

The young woman lived a long and happy life. She never forgot her husband, but she also never allowed her grief to consume her. She knew that he would want her to be happy, and she made sure to live her life to the fullest.

She is an inspiration to us all. She showed us that it is possible to find joy even in the midst of sorrow. She showed us that God is always with us, even in our darkest moments. She showed us that we can overcome anything, if we only have faith.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5

Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Jenny who was struggling with a chronic illness. She had been in and out of the hospital for years, and she was starting to lose hope. She felt like she was all alone, and she didn’t know how she was going to keep going.

One day, Jenny was reading her Bible when she came across Isaiah 40:29. She read it over and over again, and she started to realize that God was with her. He was giving her strength when she was weary, and He was increasing her power when she was weak.

Jenny started to pray and ask God for help. She started to focus on His love for her, and she started to trust that He would see her through.

As Jenny continued to pray and trust God, she started to feel better. She started to feel hope again, and she started to believe that things would get better.

Jenny’s story is a reminder that God is always with us, no matter what we are going through. He loves us, and He wants to help us. If we are struggling with a chronic illness, or any other problem, we should not be afraid to reach out for help. There are people who care about us, and there are resources available to help us overcome our challenges.

Jenny eventually found a doctor who was able to help her manage her illness. She was able to go back to school and get a job. She met a man and got married. They had two children. Jenny lived a long and happy life, and she never forgot the verse from Isaiah 40:29. It was a reminder to her that God was always with her, and that He would never give up on her.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Isaiah 40:29

A young woman was struggling. She had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and she was facing the prospect of her own death. She was scared and alone, and she didn’t know what to do.

One day, she was reading the Bible when she came across Chronicles 16:34. She read it over and over again, and it spoke to her. She realized that God was with her, and that He would never leave her.

She started to pray. She prayed for strength, she prayed for guidance, and she prayed for peace. She prayed every day, and she started to feel God’s presence in her life.

She started to attend church, and she found a community of people who loved and supported her. She started to volunteer at a local hospital, and she found purpose in her life.

She continued to fight her illness, and she never gave up hope. She knew that God was with her, and that He would give her the strength to overcome anything.

She eventually passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones. She was at peace, knowing that she was going to be with God.

She is an inspiration to us all. She showed us that it is possible to find hope even in the midst of despair. She showed us that God is always with us, even in our darkest moments. She showed us that we can overcome anything, if only we have faith.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.”

Chronicles 16:34

David was a young man who had always dreamed of becoming a doctor. He worked hard in school and got good grades, and he was accepted to a prestigious medical school. However, David’s dream soon turned into a nightmare. He struggled to keep up with the demanding workload, and he began to doubt his ability to succeed. He also started to worry about how he would pay for medical school. His parents were unable to help, and he had no other source of income.

David was about to give up on his dream when he remembered a verse from Philippians 4:19. It says, “I will meet your every need through my eternal riches in Jesus Christ.” David decided to take this verse to heart, and he began to pray for God’s help.

God answered David’s prayers in a miraculous way. He provided David with a scholarship to medical school, and he also gave him the strength to persevere through the difficult challenges. David graduated from medical school at the top of his class, and he went on to become a successful doctor.

David’s story is a reminder that God is always with us, and that He will never abandon us. No matter what challenges we face, we can always trust in God’s love and provision.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19

Sarah was a young woman who had been through a lot in her life. She had been abused by her father as a child, and she had been abandoned by her mother when she was 16 years old. She had also been in and out of foster homes, and she had never really known what it was like to have a loving family.

Sarah was angry and bitter, and she didn’t believe that anyone could love her. She thought that she was all alone in the world, and she didn’t see any hope for the future.

One day, Sarah was walking down the street when she saw a sign for a church. She had never been to church before, but she was feeling lost and alone, so she decided to go in.

When she got to the church, she was greeted by a friendly woman who introduced herself as Maria. Maria invited Sarah to sit down and talk, and Sarah told her about her life. Maria listened patiently, and she didn’t judge Sarah.

Maria told Sarah about God’s love and forgiveness, and she shared the story of Jesus Christ. Sarah had never heard about Jesus before, but she was intrigued by what Maria had to say.

Sarah started to come to church more often, and she began to learn more about God’s love. She started to let go of her anger and bitterness, and she began to experience God’s peace and joy.

Sarah eventually met a man at church, and they fell in love. They got married, and they had a family. Sarah was finally happy, and she knew that it was all because of God’s love and forgiveness.

Sarah’s story is a reminder that God loves us unconditionally, and that He is always there for us, no matter what. No matter what we have done, God is always willing to forgive us and give us a new start.

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”

Micah 7:18

A young man was a brilliant scientist, but he was also very arrogant. He believed that he was smarter than everyone else, and he didn’t believe in God.

One day, the young man was working on a new experiment when he made a mistake. The experiment went horribly wrong, and the young man was badly injured.

The young man was rushed to the hospital, but the doctors didn’t know how to help him. He was in a coma, and the chances of him waking up were slim.

The young man’s parents were devastated. They didn’t know what to do. They prayed to God for help, but they didn’t know if God would listen to them.

One night, the young man’s mother had a dream. In the dream, she saw an angel. The angel told her that God would heal her son, but only if she believed in Him.

The young man’s mother woke up from the dream with a new sense of hope. She started to pray to God, and she asked Him to heal her son.

The next day, the young man woke up from his coma. He was completely healed.

The young man was so grateful to God for healing him. He realized that he had been wrong to think that he was smarter than everyone else, and he realized that he needed to have faith in God.

The young man went on to become a great scientist, and he used his knowledge to help others. He never forgot the day that God healed him, and he always lived his life with faith in God.

“I am the LORD, who heals you..”

Exodus 15:26

A young woman was terrified. She had been accused of a crime she didn’t commit, and she was about to go on trial. She knew that the evidence against her was strong, and she was afraid that she would be found guilty.

The young woman’s family and friends were all there to support her, but she still felt alone. She didn’t know what to do, and she was starting to lose hope.

Then, she remembered a verse from Isaiah 43:2. It says, “When you walk through the fires of adversity, you will not be burned.”

The young woman took a deep breath and started to pray. She asked God to help her, and she promised that she would trust in Him no matter what happened.

The trial was long and difficult, but the young woman never gave up hope. She kept praying, and she kept trusting in God.

In the end, the young woman was found not guilty. She was so grateful to God for His help, and she knew that she would never have been able to get through it without Him.

The young woman’s story is a reminder that God is always with us, even in the darkest of times. No matter what challenges we face, God is always there to help us. We just need to have faith and trust in Him.

The young woman went on to live a long and happy life. She never forgot the day that she was found not guilty, and she always lived her life with faith in God.

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

Isaiah 43:2

A young woman was a talented artist. She loved to paint and draw, and she was always coming up with new and creative ideas. But she was also very shy. She was afraid to show her work to anyone, and she was afraid of being judged.

One day, the young woman was walking through the park when she saw a group of people gathered around a man who was painting. She stopped to watch, and she was amazed by his talent. He was painting a beautiful scene of the park, and he was doing it so effortlessly.

The young woman was inspired by the man’s painting. She decided that she wanted to be like him. She wanted to be able to share her art with the world.

The young woman started by painting small pictures. She would paint them in her room, and then she would hide them away. She was afraid to show them to anyone, but she knew that she had to start somewhere.

One day, the young woman decided to show her paintings to her friends. She was nervous, but she knew that she had to do it. She wanted to know what they thought of her work.

The young woman’s friends were very supportive. They loved her paintings, and they encouraged her to keep painting. The young woman was so happy that she had finally shared her art with someone.

The young woman continued to paint, and she got better and better. She started to enter her paintings in art shows, and she started to win awards. She was finally getting the recognition that she deserved.

The young woman’s story is a reminder that we all have something special to offer the world. We all have gifts and talents that can be used to make a difference. We just need to be brave enough to share them.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

James 1:17